Begonia plant named ‘Innbellwhi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Innbellwhi’, characterized by its compact, mounded and pendulous plant habit; freely branching habit; and numerous flowers that are white in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Innbellwhi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida, commercially known as hybrid tuberose Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Innbellwhi’.

The new Begonia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new hybrid tuberose Begonia cultivars with attractive flower form and color.

The new Begonia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2005 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BO4 3-56, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BO4 3-91, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gensingen in 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany since the summer of 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Innbellwhi has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Innbellwhi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Innbellwhi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia:

-   -   1. Compact, mounded and pendulous plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Numerous flowers that are white in color.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more compact than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more upright than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have soft pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Elserta, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of the cultivar Elserta in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were more compact than plants of         the cultivar Elserta.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Elserta differed         in flower color as plants of the cultivar Elserta had orange         red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Innbellwhi’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and flower buds of ‘Innbellwhi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were grown in Bonsall, Calif. in 15-cm containers and under commercial practice in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse during the spring and summer. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels were about 5,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and the description were about one month from planting.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida cultivar Innbellwhi. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BO4 3-56, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BO4 3-91, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures of about 18° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures of about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days             at temperatures of about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 to 35             days at temperatures of about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium to thin, fibrous; ivory in color.             Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to form             tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Compact, mounded and pendulous plant habit;             freely basal branching with about five primary branches per             plant; primary branches with secondary branches at             potentially every node. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 13.5 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 23 cm.         -   Branch description.—Length: About 11.5 cm. Diameter: About             7 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: 146C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 10.3 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape: Lanceolate with             reniform tendencies. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obliquely             cordate. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Palmate to pinnate.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: 138A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: 147C. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: 137A; venation, 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: 147C; venation, 148C. Petiole length: About 2.7 cm.             Petiole diameter: About 2.5 mm. Petiole texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; occasionally with             scattered hairs. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces:             194A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Sterile double flowers with numerous             tepals; flowers auxillary and typically arranged in             pendulous clusters of two. Freely flowering habit with about             eight flowers and flower buds per branch. Flowers not             fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the spring in Germany. Flowers last about four to five days             on the plant. Flowers not persistent.         -   Flowers.—Shape: Rounded to ovate. Diameter: About 5.4 cm.             Depth (height): About 3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter:             About 2.2 cm. Color: Close to 145D.         -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity per flower: About 78             in numerous whorls. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 1 cm.             Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 155D. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: 155D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: Two, opposite. Length:             About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Elliptical.             Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface:             157C. Color, lower surface: 157D.         -   Peduncles.—Angle: Drooping. Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 145C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None             observed. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production have not             been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Begonia has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Innbellwhi’ as illustrated and described. 